Cave De La Sybille A Panzoult 2Be enchanted by the cave de la Sibylle, a magical place where the legends of Rabelais come to life in the Panzoult rock. Sculpted from tufa and enhanced by a sound and light show, this former quarry takes you on a fascinating journey to the heart of the Chinon vineyards, where fifteen passionate winemakers reveal their precious nectars.
Cave de la Sibylle in Panzoult
Cave de la Sibylle in Panzoult
Cave de la Sibylle in Panzoult
Cave De La Sybille A Panzoult 1
Cave de la Sibylle in Panzoult
Cave de la Sibylle in Panzoult
Cave De La Sybille A Panzoult 3Starting at the tourist cellar, take this marked 12-kilometre circuit that leads you through the most beautiful panoramas of the vineyards. The winding paths take you to the top of the hillsides, where your gaze takes in the valley dotted with typical hamlets.
Take time to observe the mosaic of plots stretching as far as the eye can see: carefully aligned vines, unspoilt groves and verdant meadows make up a vivid picture. At the bend in the road, admire the troglodytic cellars that pierce the hillside, centuries-old witnesses to the work of the winegrowers.
For your comfort, bring good shoes and plenty of water. The route, which is accessible all year round, is particularly enchanting in spring when the vines are awakening, or in autumn during the grape harvest.
Start of the walk at the Cave de la Sibylle in Panzoult
Start of the walk at the Cave de la Sibylle in Panzoult
Cave de la SibylleExplore the secrets of the cellar at Senses and Wines workshops. In the semi-darkness of the galleries, learn to recognise the subtle aromas of Panzoult’s vintages thanks to the expert advice of the winemakers. A unique sensory experience where tasting mingles with the play of shadows on the sculpted walls.
Participate in the “Vendanges de la Sibylle”, these privileged days when you discover the ancestral art of harvesting by hand. In the vineyards and then in the cool of the cellar, follow the grape’s journey to the tasting of the new wine, accompanied by Touraine specialities.
Initiate yourself in food and wine pairing at the “Dîners dans la Cave”. By candlelight, savour a gourmet menu where each dish sublimates the nectars of Panzoult, while the voice of the Sibyl echoes beneath the thousand-year-old vaults.
Consider a ballet of lights dancing across the walls of tufa, while the music gently envelops you. Along the 70 metres of galleries, a modern scenography transforms your visit into a veritable sensory journey. The interplay of shadows and animated shapes creates a magical atmosphere unique to Touraine.
Enjoy this immersive show that sublimates the natural architecture of the cellar. Digital projections tell the story of Panzoult’s wine and terroir, while an educational film reveals the secrets of growing vines through the seasons. A contemporary experience that reinvents the Winegrowing tradition of the Loire Valley.
Plunge into the fascinating world of Rabelais’s Tiers Livre, where Panurge, tormented by his desire for marriage, comes to consult the mysterious prophetess of Panzoult. This soothsayer, renowned throughout the region for her oracles, received visitors in her house carved out of the hillside. Today, the winegrowers are perpetuating this story by offering you a unique immersive scenography, combining sound and light. Let the light projections dance on the walls and reveal the secrets of this Touraine legend, while the voices of the past echo in the underground galleries.
Cave de la Sibylle in PanzoultEnter the doors of this former quarry where every nook and cranny tells a story. On the walls, finely chiselled by three local artists, Rabelais’ characters come to life in a unique setting. The fifteen niches, patiently fashioned between 2002 and 2005, reveal the richness of the village of Panzoult and its AOC Chinon.
As you progress through these galleries, admire the painstaking work of the sculptors who have preserved the soul of this place steeped in history. The play of light and shadow sublimates these works carved right into the rock, creating a mysterious atmosphere conducive to the confidences of the famous soothsayer.
At the heart of these centuries-old galleries, meet the fifteen wine artisans who shape the soul of Panzoult. These guardians of the land lovingly cultivate their 350 hectares of vines on the rolling hills of the Bouchardais. From generation to generation, they perpetuate ancestral know-how while innovating to sublimate their production.
Each estate brings its own unique signature to the wines of the appellation. In their expert hands, the Cabernet Franc reveals all its complexity while the Chenin Blanc reveals its crystalline freshness. In their private cellars and the Sibylle cellar, these winemakers share their passion and guide you in the discovery of their precious nectars.
Learn to recognise the subtle aromas of Chinon wines during a guided session. In the coolness of the cellars, the winemakers will teach you their techniques for appreciating the red fruit notes of Cabernet Franc and the mineral touches of Chenin Blanc. The colour of the wine, its reflections and its clarity will no longer hold any secrets for you.
On the sand and clay terroirs of the Bouchardais, each vintage tells a unique story. Your taste buds will travel between the different expressions of the terroir: from light, fruity wines to more structured cuvées. The winemakers also share their tips for pairing these nectars with local specialities.
Cave de la Sibylle in PanzoultAn educational film “From Vine to Bottle” reveals these manufacturing secrets, illustrating the complete cycle from vine to bottle. A unique eexperience to understand the combination of tradition and modern techniques: from harvest to bottling, discover the fascinating stages of winemaking. In the modern cellars of the vignerons de Panzoult, the grapes deliver their aromas thanks to age-old know-how. Destemming gently separates the grapes from the stalks, before pressing extracts the precious juice.
Watch the fermentation, the crucial moment when yeasts transform sugar into alcohol. For the reds, maceration reveals the richness of Cabernet Franc while the rarer whites express all the finesse of Chenin. The controlled temperature of the caves troglodytes provides ideal conditions for ageing the wines.
When winter envelops the cotes du Bouchardais in its icy cloak, the Cave de la Sibylle becomes a warm refuge. Enjoy the candlelight evenings organised by the vignerons de Panzoult, where the sculpted galleries are lit up with a thousand lights.
In a hushed atmosphere, take part in workshops introducing you to truffles, the black diamond that enhances food and wine pairings. On weekends in December, the artisanal market takes up residence under the centuries-old vaults: local producers and artists offer their unique creations.
Book your place for the storytelling nocturnes, where the legends of Rabelais come to life thanks to shadow plays projected onto the tufa stone walls. A magical experience to warm hearts in the heart of the Touraine winter.
On the clay-limestone soils of Panzoult, Cabernet Franc reigns supreme. This historic grape variety produces red wines with aromas of red fruit and spices, the signature of the Chinon appellation. Its deep ruby colour hides silky tannins that develop over time.
The more confidential Chenin blanc flourishes on south-facing slopes. Its notes of white fruit and honey reveal all the minerality of the tuffeau. A rare and precious production that represents only 2% of the appellation, but whose finesse appeals to the most demanding connoisseurs.
Enjoy the “Tradition” cuvée from Domaine Charles Pain, a deep red with aromas of black fruits and sweet spices. On the heights of Panzoult, Domaine de la Commanderie has its “Élégance” cuvée in store for you, a crystalline dry white that reveals notes of acacia and pear.
The Pressoir winemakers sign their “Clos du Pressoir”, a fleshy red aged in oak barrels that reveals the power of Cabernet Franc. At Domaine de la Marinière, the “Vieilles Vignes” cuvée expresses all the finesse of the clay-limestone soils in a structured wine with silky tannins.
In the intimacy of the cellars dug into the tufa rock, enjoy the rare bottles of “L’Arpenty”, a confidential white whose minerality testifies to the excellence of the Panzoult terroirs.
The wines of Panzoult sublimate the most refined dishes. The structured reds are a magnificent accompaniment to duck breast with spices or grilled entrecôte steak with Provence herbs. For a more original experience, pair them with mushrooms from the region’s cellars, in particular with oyster mushrooms pan-fried in butter.
The confidential whites reveal all their elegance with pike-perch in beurre blanc or snacked scallops. As for the rosés, their freshness is a perfect match for a terrine of Tours rillettes or a platter of fine local charcuterie. For a successful tasting, serve your reds between 16 and 18°C, your whites between 10 and 12°C.
Bouteille Vin rouge AOC Chinon Domaine d’Etilly à Panzoult
